Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-10-13

The small boy has also been getting in some
lively advance work with flecracker and
squb. despite the harsh words of Mayor
Hewitt, which set forth that the firing of
guns, firecreckers, squibs, etc, would not be
permitted within city limits. / saw an ex-
ample Of it the other day. A tramp sat in
the shade of wholesale coffee dealers avn
ing, sound asleep on pile of sacks. As l
passed-rat-a -tat-fizz- u fizz- bang!--a package
of firecrackers had been slipped under him,
and with one yell of horror the sleeper landed
in the middle of the street, rubbing the
damaged parts of his anatomy ruefully,
while the spectators roared. The ludicrous-
ness of his situation seemed to strike the fell
low and lie SUNK away.
A friend walking with me at the time then
related the story of the vengeance that was
once wreaked on a big, overbearing bully bya
crowd of small boys who were trying but in
vain, because of the bully's interference, to
celebrate the day Of independence in their
own way.
at was in 90, my friend said with great
particularly. Il was at the age when all cor
rectly built American boys delight in fire
crackers and pin wheels and their like and
had gone down to Yates grove with II dozen
or twenty of the neighbors' boys to have
some fun. Well, we had burned up all our
crackers and squibs and had exploded all our
torpedoes To fill ont the hours intervening
before it would he dark enough to set off our
roman candles to advantage we went in
swimmin' in the creek that ran through the
grove. Old man Waite's son. who was larger
than any of us, came around with his pockets
full of fireworks and proceeded to throw our
clothes into the water by way of having
some preliminary fun before shooting Off his
crackers and things lie had a fine new suit
of clothes on himself and spoke with contempt
of our poorer ard older garments.
"1he boys were all inclined to be Md and
it was proposed to stone him in payment for
his neanness. But some one set out that it
would be better to wait till we were on shore
and then get even; so we dressed up in our
wet clothes and went ashore. protesting to
regard the fellows trick as the pleasantest
kind Of pleasantly. He was greatly puffed
up by tue fact that we took it so well and
became very genial and patronzing. But
his complaCency was shortlived, for some
one of the boys slipped up behind him
and touched match to the fuse of a pack
of firecracIers that was sticking out of the
big boys pocket. In moment there was a
circus, and then the laugh was on the other
side
"But we were all sorry for our trick
afterward, for the big fellow was so badly
burned that he was laid up for week
His fine new suit was spoiled, too, but we
didn't care for that"
Daniel Murphy, of the Fourth ward of
New York city, has taken a novel method of
perpetuating his love of the Emerald Isle and
correlative dislike of England. Mr.. Murphy
has erected his monument in advance of his
death, and a fine one it is, On the front of
the third step leading to the base he has had
these words deeply chseled: ITO outlast the
British monarchy" The monument attracts
much attention, as it stands in the new Cal.
vary cemetery in very conspicuous place.
The column is forty feet high, and supports a
handsome Greek cross, which is plainly seen
from a great distance. The column is of
gray granite. made by Ambrose Clancy from